was nothing for it but to brazen through, she said, “Lord Weston, this is my sister, Lydia. Lydia, this is Lord Weston.”
“Why, I am charmed, fair beauty. Surely the men in Essex have not let you go, as well as your sister?”
Grace watched in fascination as he addressed Lydia. It was impossible to see him rallying the full force of his charms and not realize his reputation was well earned. She knew this would happen once he saw Lydia, but she had not yet warned him of her beauty.
He took her hand, kissed it and put it in the crook of his arm as he walked her into the room. “May I call you Lydia, as we are to be brother and sister? It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. Grace has been telling me all about you.”
“Brother and sister?” She pulled her arm away and ran to Grace. “Are you really to marry him? Oh, dear!”
“Darling, you were right when you told me not to get involved in the machinations of the women in the next room. I shall mind you better next time.” Grace heard a “harrumph” from the other side of the room, but ignored it. “My foolishness put me in a rather awkward position, and as a result, Lord Weston and I must be betrothed for a while. There is no doubt we will find we do not suit,” she said. She shot him a glance that indicated he would be sorry should he interject once again. “But we must make our plans tonight so we may leave in the morning. I promise you I am quite safe with the gentleman. He has no interest in me beyond helping us out of this coil.”
Grace turned as she felt him approaching.
“Lydia, Grace is correct—neither you nor she need ever fear me.”
“Now, darling, Lord Weston and I have a few more items we need to work through, so you may go up to bed with a clear conscience. Do not worry, I will be up soon.” She walked her to the door, kissed her cheek and wished her good-night. When her sister left the room, Grace turned on him. “May I just jilt you now and that will be the tale we will respond with when asked?”
“My dear, you have made me laugh more tonight than I have in a twelvemonth!” When he came toward her and held out his hand, she had no fear of putting hers into it. “Own up, you looked so smug when your sister came into the room. You assumed I would immediately fall at her feet, and I wanted to show you that beauty is insufficient to sway me.
“She is beautiful, I grant you, Grace. But I am far more interested in you. We have been here this hour or more and I have not once been bored. You have a quick and intelligent answer ready for almost everything we have discussed.”
“This is getting us nowhere,” she stated, matter-of-fact, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks at his peculiar compliment. “We have much to decide tonight, so the sooner we start the sooner we finish, my lord.”
* * *
When Lydia entered the parlor for breakfast the next morning, Grace and the marquess were still at loggerheads. A more complete explanation of the situation filled her with dismay. “Oh, dear! Must you go to all this trouble simply to avoid casting a shadow on my Season?” She paused only a moment and said clearly, “Grace, I do not need to be presented this year. I—”
“Lydia, we are definitely—”
Lord Weston cut them both off in a voice Grace had not heard from him. “Lydia, we must be concerned about your Season. There is no question about that. And,” he said, shifting his gaze to her sister, “Grace’s reputation is at stake here, as well. Her standing in London and Essex is no less precious than yours for this Season. I will hear no more about it.”
Grace became aware of an overall feeling of security. Though Lydia’s character was more important in her eyes—the dear girl deserved to make an excellent match, while she herself had no such concerns—Lord Weston wanted to protect her, as well. Grace had not wished to betray her own fears on that score, but he understood what this meant to her. She had always been responsible for taking care of herself. She was surprised at how happy she felt that someone was looking after her!
Breakfast turned into lunch as they struggled to concoct a narrative of their courtship that would satisfy Society and not violate Grace’s innate honesty. She feared they would need to postpone their departure one more day.
Lord, please forgive me for putting all of us in such an awkward situation. Proverbs says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” I have erred by trying to direct the lives of others. Please lead us through this in Your way, protecting our path.
By luncheon, they had decided on a plausible way to explain how they had met. They would say Grace’s father and Lord Weston had a mutual interest in the Elgin Marbles, which was true. When Lord Weston and Grace met, their speedy courtship had followed, which was also true.
It was then that Lydia, sitting on a bench watching travelers through the window, broke in on the discussion, “Grace, will you tell people that Lord Weston has fallen in love with you?”
“What?” The exclamation in response came from both Grace and Lord Weston at the same time.
In a much smaller voice Lydia answered, “I only meant... I did not know... Well, why else would you become betrothed?”
“I could have just as easily decided your sister would make me a proper marchioness after meeting her.”
Grace became unusually quiet. She did not know how to answer that question, and to own the truth, the idea of it made her nervous somehow.
But Lydia suddenly overcame her fear of him. “Do you not see, my lord, it is that which will make the story work—the idea that Grace reformed the unreformable rake.”
His lordship’s only reply was to roll his eyes.
Grace finally spoke, but with such a blush she could barely look at him. “I am beginning to believe Lydia has the right of it.” She saw the surge of anger starting to overtake him, and continued quickly. “You were on the verge of making a marriage of convenience in the Little Season. Why would you change your mind from a known individual to an unknown one in midstream?” She avoided his eyes. “I believe the only reason you would do such a thing must be a change in your...feelings.”
He looked at her intently, then said quietly, “As usual, my practical and levelheaded delight, you are correct. And do not think I appreciate it!” He smiled at her, but he also ran his hand through his hair, still visibly uncomfortable with this scenario. Fortunately, he did not see her blanch at the endearment. He had called Lydia his fair beauty. She was practical and levelheaded. It was the first time those words coupled with her name had ever bothered her.
“Very well, I have developed a tendre for Grace. What would it be based on?”
This time she actually groaned. “I am persuaded if my ego survives this discussion, it will be no thanks to you.”
He smiled at her, got down on one knee next to her chair and took her hand. “My dear Lady Grace, I did not mean that the way it sounded. What I meant was, despite your undeniable charms, we must find the thing, the one thing that would make me want to marry you, when I have always considered marriage a miserable prospect.” He had been looking deep into her eyes and now kissed the hand he was holding. “My aversion to marriage, and marriage to an...innocent, is common knowledge.”
“Oh, do stop flirting with me, you rogue, and make up something
